Background

The signing of the Revitalized Agreement to Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) in September 2018 was celebrated as a breakthrough for reversing the brutal civil conflict that has cost an estimated 400,000 lives and displaced more than 4 million people since its onset in December 2013. The signing of the R-ARCSS opened a new chapter and opportunity for peacebuilding, including reforming the justice system to solidify and speed up the peace process as a part of the implementation of provisions of the R-ARCSS. The signing has also decreased active warfare across the country and increased public confidence in sustaining peace at the community level. As the number of returnees are expected to rise, risk of community conflict increases without necessary justice and accountability mechanisms in place.

The violence in South Sudan has had a profound impact on individuals and communities as it has further weakened and destabilized coping mechanisms, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response systems, and peace building initiatives. The violence has also negatively impacted institutional capacity for provision of basic social services and for justice and reconciliation; reinforced deep-seated grievances that underpin many inter-communal conflicts, perpetuating revenge killings and violence, including GBV. As much destruction goes on at community level through intercommunal conflict during cattle raid, fighting over land and water resources, accompanying abductions, forced marriage and gender-based violence. In displacement settings, threats and risks of GBV against women and girls persist particularly sexual violence, intimate partner violence increases (IPV) as do sexual exploitation, harassment and child, and forced marriage.

Wide-spread acceptance of gender inequality and GBV, has also contributed to limited capacity and participation of women in local peace processes and social cohesion activities. Although women played a myriad of roles in support of peace making and peacebuilding within their communities during the civil war between north and South Sudan, women’s formal participation in resolving the conflict through engagement in the formal peace processes has been marginal, as they face exclusion in leadership in a predominantly patriarchal society.

The signing of the R-ARCSS in September 2018 has opened new opportunities for the UN to engage in the pre-transition and transitional period leading up to planned elections in 2022. Several key provisions of the R-ARCSS have been identified by the UN as priorities to support due to the effect on trust and confidence in the ongoing peace process as well as the catalytic implementation effects on other provisions of the agreement. Reforming and building trust in the justice system to ensure services that reduce impunity of perpetrators of violent crime is a key area of support for the implementation of the R-ARCSS. The revitalized peace agreement supports healing, reconciliation, dialogue to strengthen community social fabric and to encourage returnees to come back home.

Duties and Responsibilities

The International Consultant will be responsible for conducting a research on gendered-specific mechanisms to cope with conflict-related violence, especially conflict-related sexual violence, where there is limited, or no protection provided by state authorities. The research will focus on 3 specific locations of South Sudan: Jonglei, Unity and Juba. Through the research, the consultant will also identify local coping mechanisms and their impact on survivors as well as potential networks of survivors which can be developed and whose capacities on leadership, survivors’ rights and peace dialogue could be strengthened by the project. 

Scope

• the overall leadership of Deputy Director of UNMISS Human Rights Division, the incumbent will;
• Consult a broad spectrum of local community groups and individuals on the gendered effect (psychological/psychosocial) of trauma caused by conflict-related violations in at least 3 selected locations (Jonglei, Unity and Juba). Consultations to be carried out through individual interviews, focus group discussions and other research methodologies as appropriate.
• Identify and map mechanisms developed to cope with trauma both at individual and community levels by survivors exposed to conflict-related violations in selected locations. Assess these mechanisms and their impact.
• Identify and map mechanisms to build resilience in the aftermath of trauma, developed both at individual and community levels by survivors exposed to conflict-related violations in selected locations.
• Undertake a gender analysis of existing coping mechanisms as well as of resilience strategies at grassroots levels highlighting when/if mechanisms are harmful and infringe on individual rights.
• Consult relevant experts in academic/professional fields such as sociology, mental health and anthropology to map and review existing literature around on the issue of conflict, trauma and resilience in South Sudan.
• Identify potential members of possible survivors’ groups which could be developed and supported by the project in building their capacity on leadership, survivors’ rights and reconciliation dialogue with perpetrators’ groups.
• Document key findings, analysis, challenges and gaps based on field research and consultations with relevant stakeholders in a final report. The final report to include proposed models and roadmap for each model to develop and strengthen localised coping mechanisms and resilience through groups working towards behavioural change and enhanced support systems.

Competencies

Core Competencies and values:

• Demonstrates integrity and fairness by modelling UN values and ethical standards;
• Demonstrates professional competence and is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
• Display cultural, gender, nationality, religion and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• High sense of relational skills, including cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability, with a demonstrated ability to work in a multidisciplinary team.

Functional Competencies:

• Knowledge and experience of issues concerning trauma, conflict coping mechanisms and resilience building from academic and practical point of view.
• Strong background in gender
• Excellent facilitation and communication skills;
• Wide experience in quantitative and qualitative research methods and –analysis including surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews etc.;
• Ability to deal with multi-stakeholder groups;
• Ability to write focused assessment reports;
• Strong interpersonal and managerial skills, ability to work with people from different backgrounds and evidence of delivering good quality assessment and research products in a timely manner.
• Good knowledge and understanding of the UN system will be an asset
• Experience of working with survivors’ groups, group healing in conflict contexts will be an asset.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in psychology or social sciences fields relevant to the requirements of the TOR (e.g., sociology, anthropology, development studies) with focus on gender/women’s rights. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience

• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in the area of trauma and resilience is required.  
• Proven track record in analytical research with specialization gender equality.
• Excellent report writing skills, including ability to write high quality reports, conduct research and articulate ideas in a clear concise style;
• Familiarity and previous working experience with international development organizations particularly on trauma and resilience-building in conflict settings.
• Previous work in South Sudan or in the region would be an advantage.

Language

• Strong communication skills - Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English;
• Knowledge of Arabic would be an advantage

Knowledge document

•  Published work

Deliverables

Provide the compilation of existing gender-specific mechanisms developed to cope with trauma both at individual and community levels by survivors exposed to conflict-related violations in selected locations

Provide the compilation of existing gender-specific mechanisms developed to build resilience in the aftermath of trauma, both at individual and community levels, by survivors exposed to conflict-related violations in selected locations (deadline: 20 days after the beginning of the consultancy)

Timeframe 20 days

Provide possible models for survivor’s groups working through localised coping mechanisms building resilience and community-based support systems   which could be developed/supported by the project in 3 locations (deadline:

Provide the first Draft of the final report and submitted for review of senior officials of UNMISS Human Rights Division and relevant UN agencies (deadline:

Timeframe 10 days

Incorporate feedback from senior officials of UNMISS Human Rights Division and relevant UN agencies in the final draft (deadline:

Timeframe 5 days

Provide Final version of the report with detailed gendered analysis of findings, recommendations and concrete models for empowered survivors groups working through localised coping mechanisms building resilience and community-based support systems and submit for approval (deadline: end of consultancy).

Timeframe 1 day

Methodology

The consultancy will include the following processes:

• Regular meetings/engagements/interviews/focus groups discussions with local networks of survivors
• Engagements with experts on trauma and resilience at national level   
• Field trips to selected locations and FGD’s
• Regular meetings/engagements with OHCHR, UNMISS Human Rights Division and other relevant UNMISS/UN actors
• Independent work of review and analysis of relevant documentation
• Secondary research
• Reporting on findings